Gestational what?

Well that’s just annoying. Apparently I have gestational diabetes.

Background:

The last 2 NHS scans showed a massive growth particularly on baby’s abdominal cavity measurement. They seemed to indicate that he’d grown from the 50th percentile a few weeks before to the 99th/100th percentile last week. So they insisted I go and get tested for gestational diabetes.

I also see a private doctor and I had 2 scans with him about the same distance apart. I had the private scan about a day after the second NHS scan (where baby had apparently grown hugely). He measured 5 times and couldn’t replicate the result. At the most, baby B was about 70-75th percentile and this was consistent with the previous scan (which the same doctor performed, unlike on the NHS where it’s different sonographers). He also said IVF babies are typically larger and he wasn’t worried.

The test for gestational diabetes is called the Glucose Tolerance Test. You go in early in the morning after fasting for 10 hours. You have a blood test, then drink a sugary drink, sit still for two hours and then have another blood test. Does that sound like something you would actually do in real life? Umm no.

Why am I bothered about this?

Well, I haven’t had any symptoms and I don’t feel unwell in myself. I feel pretty okay really. It may seem like a major U turn but I am really anti medicalising the birth more than necessary. And this seems like they were looking for some sort of reason just to give a diagnosis because I had the extra scans (which were for anxiety, not further diagnosis!).

The only reason they’re giving me this diagnosis is because they think my baby is measuring big. Everything I’ve read is that the measurements tend not to be very reliable, and that you need to have at least 3 scans performed by the same sonographer in order to be able to make a judgement, and there’s a huge margin for error.

I am annoyed because both NHS scans were done by different people and they weren’t really paying attention, and I could see with my own eyes they weren’t taking the same amount of care to measure accurately as the private doc was. And he did both the private scans (in fact he’s done three) and said the growth was completely consistent and he didn’t think I had GD.

What are the implications?

The main thing about GD that I’m worried about is that I will have to be induced early and possibly be pressured to have a caesarian etc. I know I previously wanted one, and this is probably the biggest U turn in the history of U turns, but now I’ve got my head around it, I really want to try and let things go naturally if possible – obviously pending any emergencies with the baby. (Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth has a lot to answer for!)

I really would rather not have an induction or medical intervention for the only reason that they believe the baby is big. (In so many cases they’ve turned out to be wrong, and anyway, human bodies are designed to give birth to babies, even if they’re big.) I also think that early induction increases the chance of other complications / interventions and having to give birth on the ward (which I really don’t want to do) rather than the birth centre. (My absolute worst case scenario would be induction, forceps and episiotomy, which is what I wanted to avoid when I wanted a caesarian…)

I get that everyone has different views on this and they’re entitled to them. I’m not saying anyone else should choose my way or that the way I want to give birth is right for everyone. I think women should be able to choose their manner of birth if at all possible and shouldn’t be pressured to have something they don’t want, unless the baby’s in immediate danger. Right now I feel like they’re just hitting me with a diagnosis without giving me any information and basing it on inconsistent information (eg Is he 100th percentile or 70th? That makes a difference.)

What next?

I have to wait for a call back from the hospital and for them to make me start monitoring my blood sugar and recommend changes to my diet, etc. This is pretty annoying as if there’s one thing guaranteed to make me cranky, it’s going on a diet. Anyway there’s the possibility I won’t need medication but can fix it with diet. I guess I’ll have to figure it out.

I’m mainly trying not to worry unduly until I find out what is going on. They wouldn’t even tell me my reading and apparently someone will be in touch in a few days to make an appointment to see the diabetes nurse, so I guess I’ll have to wait and see what they say.

Other stuff…

It’s my baby shower this weekend! Squeal! I’m so excited, firstly because I’m going to see my BFF (who is organising it and who lives far away) and secondly because we are having Christmas dinner in our local pub (because I’m classy like that!). Local pub means I can bring Dog, who is the important guest of honour. (Aside: Everyone keeps saying, “How is Dog going to cope?” as if they think we’re suddenly going to stop caring about him or something. Not happening. He’s my first baby.) And I loooove Christmas. It’ll be my first Christmas dinner this year!

Actually not sure how I’ll cope being the centre of attention. I usually love it, but everything’s a bit weird with how I’ve been feeling about the pregnancy and bump, but I figure I just have to go with the flow and enjoy it. I’ll be 30 weeks. We decided not to do it in December as everyone gets booked up with actual Christmas stuff instead of pretend Christmas stuff! Unfortunately as things go, my mum and sister aren’t going to be able to make it. My mum is having an operation so will be in recovery this weekend. And my sister is starting her IVF cycle 2. I told her she didn’t have to come and I wouldn’t expect that. She seems okay and I’ve been encouraging her every step of the way. Fingers crossed!

T is away this weekend on his last (for a while) boys’ holiday – not the excitement that it probably sounds, but he has a friend who has some special needs and who he takes away sometimes so a couple of them are taking him to a hotel for the weekend. It just gives his friend some time where he can feel like he has a “normal” life. (The friend has some mobility and mental health issues so wouldn’t get away otherwise.) So I will have a girls’ / Dog weekend.

I ordered our pram! Of course this has invited a load of opinions from people about how their choice of pram was the better choice and blah blah blah, but honestly I am not that interested. Like why do people feel that their choice of baby stuff needs to be taken up by everyone else? It seems a bit weird that they’re so into that. I can’t wait for them to start having an opinion on breastfeeding, daycare and crying… *sarcasm*. My parents kindly gave us the money for the pram and car seat and a little bit more which meant I was also able to order a carrier (for T) and a sling (for me) which I’m a bit excited about too!

T is busy building B’s little wardrobe – he’s doing a bespoke construction out of metal and I’ve stayed out of it as he gets some funny ideas! We have a nice collection of little clothes now and I’m sure we will have a few more before the weekend’s out! Here is the raccoon outfit we got for B in Brussels… I can’t even.

Like this:

45 comments

Sorry to hear about your diabetes (GD). That’s no fun! I keep hoping I don’t get it. I hear it can develop pretty suddenly in the last tri. My birth place requires I take a GD test, so I’ll be doing that in four weeks. Take care of you and baby! xoxo

Oh boo. Sorry to hear about the GD. I don’t think the diagnosis is based on baby measuring big, but the bloods only as I understand it. Measuring big just prompts the test. In my vbac group there are heaps of GD mamas that say screw you to the hospital and let themselves go into labour naturally or at least wait until post 40 weeks for an induction provided everything seems fine. They do spout off research but I’m not across it as I didn’t have GD myself but it is around if you feel like you might not want to do the 39 week thing. Maybe your super midwife will know more. Annoying they wouldn’t give you your numbers. You are probably *just* over. I had a massive baby without having GD (they checked her sugars when she was born too and she was fine) and I know plenty of GD mamas who have babies smaller than mine and within average range so try not to let it freak you out. I’m sorry you have to have this bump in the road. Booooooo. Enjoy your Christmas thing on the weekend. X

Yeah it’s all based on the GTT I took last week. The measurement was what prompted the test… It’s not that I don’t want to do what’s right; I just don’t see how they’ve based this test (which apparently gives plenty of false positives) on a measurement which my private doc couldn’t replicate. But anyway. Will wait and see if they give me an appointment. I read that the NICE guidelines say 40+6 for an induction for GD (not pre-occurring diabetes) with no other contraindications so I will push (ha!) for that. I just don’t really want an induction because I think the whole thing must be harder when baby doesn’t want to come out! I am okay… Just slightly annoyed! 🙂 But I’ll get over it! (Just don’t want to be on a diet before my party!)

Haha worst timing ever. I totally get that!! We do the long GTT as a standard for every pregnancy in Australia regardless of measurement. It sucks that they won’t tell you your number. A friend of mine was declared to have it during her second pregnancy but it was only her fasting number and it was out by the teensiest amount. She said she got to the point where she used to lie to them about her fasting numbers as there was such a small variance from “normal” lol I hope it all works out that they don’t push you for an early induction. Crossing my fingers for you xx

Their measurements aren’t usually accurate. My friend had GD and her baby was 6 pounds. I didn’t have diagnosed GD and Bryson was 9 pounds 7 ounces. I asked my OB afterwards if he thought maybe I got it after that test because Bryson acted like a GD baby with blood sugar regulation the day he was born. No one knows. I wish Bryson hadn’t been that way though because he was poked and prodded a lot those first 24-36 hours. 😢 My friend’s GD baby didn’t experience anything Bryson did because she did so well regulating her diet. All that to say…. I’m glad you got tested and that you know. Baby B will have a smoother first day than fat Bryson did. 😂

I can’t wait until you’re blogging about all of the assvice on parenting!

I know right? Poor thing is going to be very brightly dressed if my previous purchases are anything to go by! Ha. I’m sure babies don’t last long in each outfit though and it’s probably easiest to let them go around sans clothing inside the house so it’s easier to mop up… maybe?! 😉
Poor Bryson. He is so the cutie. I suppose I’ll have to go on a diet but it sounds very un-fun! 😦

Do not even TALK to me about the opinionated parents! Agh! Seriously! Unsolicited advice is so annoying!

Oh I have lots to say on this post!! With the GD…it can’t be diagnosed solely based on the size of the baby, that doesn’t even make sense. It’s based on how your body processes glucose, period. It’s done that way (drinking the sugar then sitting still with no food/water) for a reason, they want to see how your body processes it with no outside interference. Trust me, having just gone through all of this I know. It also has nothing to do with how you feel or what you eat. Just like people with regular Diabetes…yes outside factors can contribute to it, but it just is what it is. I know overweight people who have had it (me), skinny and average people who have had it, people that eat great and people that eat crap all the time. You just have to watch your total carbs going forward. I would absolutely ask them for your results though, if you’re like me and want all the info and details. I was JUST over the limits, and it took a few weeks to get things under control and learn how my body reacted to certain foods, but we got there. (I’m sure you remember some of my rants!) It’s a big pain in the butt, but it’s manageable. You can even still have your sweets, in moderation and with a healthy meal. If you have any questions just let me know and I’ll do what I can to help. Cadence measured big overall from early on, she was at least a week ahead right from the beginning. Towards the end her head was what measured the largest, and when she was born that was in the 81st percentile! Oh also…I think it really depends on the Dr and the situation as to whether you’re induced early or not. It’s not automatically a c-section either. I was induced early more for the clotting disorder, then the GD just gave it a bit of a nudge and gave me an excuse to want to do it a little sooner than later! Again, if you have questions just email or message me.
Try not to freak out too much, you’ll get through it just fine!

Haha, yes I remember your rants! I’ll have to reread some of your posts to see what you ate! Another friend also had GD so she is sending me her diet tips.
I hope that I don’t get induced early / have a caesarian unless it’s really necessary. Like obviously I want to do what’s right for B, but I don’t want some sort of kneejerk reaction (and I want to sit in the nice warm pool, haha). I am okay… Not freaking out too much! Just annoyed about the diet bit right now and the lack of info, but I guess they might tell me next week!

My normal breakfast was 3 scrambled eggs w/ cheese and 2 slices of toast with margarine and water. My breakfast and 3 snacks were all 30 carbs each, and my lunch and dinner were 60. Everyone is allowed different amounts, so it just depends on I think your weight and how severe your failed the test. (I think that’s what they based it on.) Also certain proteins don’t count as your carbs. It’s kinda complicated, and you’ll learn after a few weeks little ways you can cheat things in. It’s super annoying and frustrating, but you’ll get through it and be just fine.

Wow I didn’t know people did baby showers back in the UK. I thought that was just a US thing! Shows that I’ve been away for too long….
Sucks to hear about ‘supposed’ GD. Are they able to give you the results of the blood test so that you can see why they diagnosed you?

They don’t really do baby showers all the time – it’s another of those US imports that they sometimes do! I’ve hosted one and been to a few informal ones (mainly work lunches) but it’s by no means the norm! I just figured I would have one because my BFF seemed happy to arrange it and also I never thought I’d have a baby so want to go all out! They’re much smaller here though. More like token gifts rather than the big ones like in the US!

I’ll get the blood test results when I see the diabetes nurse, but they haven’t called yet with the appointment, which is annoying!

Sorry about the GD. Mine was diagnosed at 12 weeks (had to test early because I was over 35 and had a family history). The diagnosis is based on blood tests and not size of the baby and it does tend to over diagnose but that’s better than missing someone who does have it. Admittedly the low carb diet sucked but it was manageable and I never needed meds to control my sugar level. And even with GD my daughter was only 8lbs and I didn’t need to be induced early. In fact, I was induced because I was 5 days overdue! And no c section. So while you will crave carbs and be cranky about eating, a GD diagnosis definitely doesn’t mean you’ll have complications or a ginormous baby!

Yeah, I’m just kind of annoyed because my blood tests were always normal for glucose so they’ve based it all on the measurements in the growth scans which were performed by different sonographers and couldn’t be replicated by my private doc. I don’t mind doing something if it’s going to do good, but I don’t want to do stuff if it’s just because they’ve got me on some conveyor belt of diagnosis. And I like carbs! and I don’t like diets! Glad to hear you didn’t have complications or a ginormous baby though – gives me hope! 🙂

Yeah, it’s so cute! Can’t wait to put him in it. We bought some for 3 months and 6 months as we figured everyone would get newborn stuff. I can’t wait to see my BFF and to have Christmas dinner!
Yeah the measurements are driving me nuts! So annoying, esp as I know that the private doc’s scan is so much better quality and he took more care. Anyway it blows my mind that in theory baby B could be here (term) in 7 weeks! :O The doc said any time after 37! Eek!

I know! I’m just being selfish as I enjoy not watching my diet and it’s ruining my fun! Oh and the not wanting to be induced thing. Urgh.
I’m soooo hopeful my sis gets a good result. I’m sure it will be really hard for her if she doesn’t. It’s a FET though so I don’t know. At least she doesn’t have to do stims (which is my least favourite part) but it doesn’t give much margin for error.
Haaaaa I think I’m going to block all helpful parents! 🙂

Sorry to hear about the GD. They seem awful quick to force that diagnosis on a lot of pregnant women. I dont see how the size of the baby plus one glucose test can be an accurate way to diagnose it either!

Your baby shower sounds so much fun!
I know people won’t think it’s the same but we have a house rabbit that is completely spoiled and people keep asking us what will happen to him after the baby is born. Nothing will change, he will still have his own room (I know, we are mental) and he will still be spoiled rotten.

I hate how everyone assumes that because they bought one baby product you have to buy the exact same thing as them!! especailly when it comes to prams! everyones lifestyle is different so one pram does not fit all!

I think I’m just feeling cantankerous because my daily hot chocolate may be compromised! 🙂
I so understand about the house rabbit! He sounds amazing with his own room! Ha! I am glad you aren’t shoving him out. My dog is my priority for a lot of this, as I don’t want him to feel awful about the baby. I am hoping they’ll be great friends!
Yeah, aren’t parents nuts! 🙂 x

Yeah I would be in a serious bad mood if I had to give up my sugary irn bru 🙈
The bunny is hilarious, such a wee character. A few friends have had their kids round and he’s been great with them.
I’m sure dog and baby will be great friends! X

Lots of luck to your sister for her IVF! I hope that she will still be up for going to your baby shower. Maybe she could see how she feels on the day. Sorry about the GD, having to go on a diet, especially with less sugar would be no fun I can imagine! The raccoon outfit is sweet 🙂

Is the diagnosis on baby’s size or on bloods? It should really only be on bloods. My baby’s size is about 40th percentile, but I have GD because of how my bloods were when drinking pure glucose after fasting. Agreed, not something I would EVER do (but some people do… especially here in America!). But I am glad that I know how my body reacts so that I can make some better decisions about what I am eating so that I have a better chance of natural birth if baby doesn’t get too big.

Biggest step is to get monitoring the blood sugars and learning what works for you and you and baby will be just fine!

It’s on bloods but the test was prompted by size (not replicated by the private doc). I think I’m just a bit sceptical about the test… It’s not like I ever drink liquid glucose and sit still for two hours! Yeah, we shall see on the blood monitoring… and I thought I was over the sticking myself with needles part! 😦

I hate poking myself, so it has not been fun for me either. But as dumb as the test is, I did it in the 2nd tri and passed with flying colors, did it again in the 3rd and failed miserably, there is a change in hormones that took place that made my cells insulin resistant. That being said, since I don’t drink pure glucose and sit still after breakfast, I haven’t really had to change my lifestyle. I started checking my sugars, and they look great. I eat enough, and I’m not really on a diet. I do make a few changes, such as walking a bit after lunch or breakfast, especially if there were more carbs than I probably needed, which is something I did anyway, took frequent short walks, but I just time them differently now. And I have been skipping carbs when I really don’t need them, like on burgers, I will pull off the top or both buns, and it doesn’t interfere with my satisfaction of a meal. But I have been able to eat most of the things I did before and sugars have been great. It won’t be as bad as you think! Good luck!

Don’t worry about it. I was SOOOO mad and annoyed for a couple of weeks after I got diagnosed. Once I had an appointment with the Dr after I had a couple of weeks of blood sugars, I felt so much better, he was like you are doing great, just test your fasting and then a couple of random days a week, which made it a lot better.

As you know, I’ve been diagnosed with GD, and had it with my 1st pregnancy. My son was born via csection (he was breech, and the gd), and weighed 7lb1oz. So, not huge. Pretty tiny it felt. This time, at 28w 5d, baby has consistently measured only 1-2 days ahead. I have family and friends who have not had gd (at least not diagnosed) and had babies weighing 10 and 11lbs. All this to say, the diagnosis does not necessarily mean a giant baby, and not all giant babies are a result of the gd. Everyone is different.
I can also tell you, I barely failed the glucose test with my 1st, and still ended up on insulin. I think a lot of it is hormonal. My fasting numbers were not good then, and they are not good now. I started insulin this week to try to get a grip on my fasting #’s. It is not the worst thing. Of course, no one daydreams of extra injections, or having to chart blood sugar levels, but, it is what it is. It’s treatable, and in the big scheme of things, only lasts a short bit.

Bugger about the GD! I passed my bloodtest, but they were thinking of testing me again as I keep coming up with sugar in my urine. But baby is not measuring big, and they’ve stopped mentioning it so I don’t think they’ll bother.
Enjoy your baby shower! I’m still finding it hard being the centre of attention for baby things. Even talking about the pregnancy in a large group of people I find awkward. I feel a little fraudulent.
But it’s so exciting to be given baby goodies! Opening drawers to look at my baby loot has become my all time favourite thing.

Thank you!! We shall see what they say when I see the nurse. I’ve never had sugar in my urine either!!
Baby shower is day after tomorrow. Can’t believe it! A few items arrived early and it’s really lovely. I totally get what you mean about talking about it. But stockpiling presents for the baby is really nice! I need to put all the pile of stuff somewhere!

Clearly I’m playing catch-up on your life today. 😊
I am so sorry about the GD diagnosis! Will it be controlled with diet or do you have to do insilin as well?
But in the good news department that outfit is completely adorable!! And I’m excited that you ordered a pram! And get used to the “helpful” advice, it’s not going to stop coming your way anytime soon, unfortunately! 😉

Ha!! I don’t know about the diet or insulin question as have to wait till I see the nurse. Given it’s been postponed another week, I can’t think they think it’s that urgent! I think they usually try diet first.
Haha, the advice is nuts. Like people want you to get EXACTLY THE SAME stuff they got! Why?!

I’m 25 weeks and 5 days pregnant currently with my first child. I’m having my Glucose test in the morning in about a week, I’m really worried that I will end up getting diagnosed with GD. I’ll admit I haven’t been drinking as much water as I should, I’ve been giving into a lot of fatty cravings, and drinking lots of soda. I’m really worried that could factor into me having GD. All of my previous scans and appts have went very well though, so that’s easing my mind that my levels have always been normal. Just curious, If I do end up being diagnosed, what is the treatment? Is there medicine, and most importantly – are there shots?

Hey. You can’t do anything to change whether you have GD or not, unfortunately. However it depends on how your body responds. My GD is completely controlled by diet so no need for any shots (the usual treatment here is metformin I think which isn’t a shot, or if you get worse you can have insulin shots, I think, but as I said I’m not on any drugs for it). It just means having a lower carb diet. TBH I have not found it too difficult to control with diet. I occasionally go over the limit but I can usually figure out why (something high sugar or carb). You do need to do blood tests fairly often to track your blood sugar but they really aren’t very difficult to do / not painful.